Motor-controller.



WILLIAM B. LUCAS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 19.1.0.

Application Med March 10, 1909. Serial No. 482,590.

To all wwm 'it ma/y concern.'

Bc it lmown thet I, WILLIAM B. LuoAe, e citizen of the United States ofAmerica, und a resident of Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Controllers, ofwhich the following is u specification.

The main objects of this invention ere to provide an improved form ofelectric controller particularly nda ted for the purpose of automaticellreducing the starting resistance in en e ectric motor circuit; toprovide en im roved 'mechanism ca able of being contro led by therotation o the motor controlled and adapted to positively inv sure thechange of the resistance required for any variation of speed of themotor controlled; to-provide an improved construction of the contactdevices whereby injury to the motor controlled by the operation of seidmotor is rectically impossible; to provide improved) contact devices andmechanism for causing reduction of resistance in the circuit of themotor controlled; to provide an improved form of structure to hold thecontact devices in position; 'to provide an improved device of thisclass in which. the control is accomplished by the action of a liquidconductor under centrifugal force; and to provide improved means forcontaining the operating liquid.

A specific construction'embodying this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 ise longitudinal section, 4partly broken away, of enelectric-controller con- .structed eccordin 'brushesV and con uctorsbeing shown diegremmarticiilly. Fig. 2 is a transverse sec#- 4to thisinvention, the

tion on the line AA of Fig. `l, the position of the 1i uid whenitheshaft is at restbeing indicate by full'lines, and other portions l "'fthe surfe-ce of the liquid, dependin on the 's eed of rotation, beingindicate( by dotta lines. A v

the constructionshown, the receptacle i 1 has e cevty2 sup orting eliquid 3. A

plurality of contact evices are mounted on the receptecle, -a-nd eachcomprises an inner part' or terminal bar 4, `disposed substanl' 'extentielly parallel with the exis of the receptocle, end substantially flushwith the inner surface of the cylindricel Wall of the receptecle, end onouter part or annuler slip ring 5, each inner part 4 and its' res ectiveouter pnrt 5 being connected by a con uctor G. lli the form shown, thebars 4 nre spaced eport ciroumferentiell and the slip rings 5 nre spacedapart axially, The shaft 7 is placed concentric with the receptacle.

In the form shown in the drawin s the body of the receptacle is made ofinsu ating material. The cavity 2 is mode concentric with thereceptacle. The bar contact devices 4 are mounted on the receptacle 1.Each bar 4 is respectively connected with :i slip ring 5 by a connector6. Individuel brushes 8 bear on tlieslip rings 5, and conductors 9 are'connected to the brushes 84 In the form shown', euch of the conductors9 represents n resistance interposed between an adjacent pair-ofbrushes.-

The operation of the device shown is :is followszWlien the receptacle isrotated, the liquid 3, due-to friction Irid centrifugal force, willsuccessively engage the barsv 4. During. rotation ille liquid 3 makes.contact with a. gradually increasing number of the bnr Contact devices4, :ind finally mulics n complete ring contact with ellthe Contactdevices. Assume, for exemple, that the device is mounted directly uponthe shaft, of :i motor, Ithat. the coiiductors 9 are rcsistancesinterposed between 'the contact devices, nnd that all nrc connected incircuitsuccessively ccinnect dilferent resistuiic'es.4 As the speed1ncreu.ses,`tlie friction' of the walls of the receptlicle on tli.exposed 'surfaces of tli'c liquid will ten( to cause the liquid tofollow the rotation ofthe receptuele. This, bein Iresisted by thovforceof graviy, will resu tin the liquid gradually ing so as to simultaneous]cover 'a larger art of the inner eircum .erence of the cavity, and thenumber of resistiinces which are simultaneously short-. circuited willincrease until at a'. certain critical speed 'the liquid will havebecome spread out in a continuous rin short-'circulting ,all theelement, and mechanism for automaticallyv conductors and t ereby cuttingout all of the resistance.

Although -but1one 4slpeciiic embodiment of the invention is hereinshownand described,

it will be understood that `numerous Adetails of the construction shownmay be altered or omitted -withdut departing from the spirit and scopeof this invention.

1. In a motor controlling device, a fixed starting resistance, a rotaryelement, terminals for said resistance carried by said short-circuitingsaid terminals when 4the speed of the motor is accelerated.

2. In a motor controlling device, a fixed starting resistance, ac rotaryelement driven by the motor, terminals for said resistance carried bySaid'element, and'lmechanism for automatically short circuiting saidterminals when the speed of the moter is accelerated and for-openingsaid short circuit when the speed of the motor is diminished.

3. In a motor controlling device, a plu- 'rality of fixed lresistances,a rotary element driven by the motor, terminals for said resistancescarriedby said element, and mech-'v anism for automatically.short-circuiting lsaid terminals when the speed of the motor isaccelerated, the number of terminals thus short-circuited depending uponthe amount of acceleration offthe speed.

4. In.a motor-controlling device, a fixed starting resistance in circuitwith the motor,

a rotary element driven by the motor 'and -carryingterminals for saidresistance, and

mechanlsm for automatically short circuiting the terminals of saidresistance when the speed of the motor isaccelerated. Y

5. In a motor controlling device, a fixed resistance in circuit with themotor, a rotary element driven by the motor and cai-ring terminalsA forsaid resistanceyand mecV anism for wholly or in part automaticallyshort-circuiting the terminals of said re;

sistance as the speed of the .motor is accelerated, the amount of theresistance-thus shortclrcuited' depending upon 'the amount ofacceleration of the spec 6. In a motor controlling `device, a-receptaclerotatably mounted and havinga caility therein'for supporting la liquid,a hquid conductor 1n said cavity, a series of contact devices inthe Wallof `said cavity, being spaced apart' circumferentially andsubstantially.

flush with the inner surface of said wall, and means outslde of saidreceptacle connected electrically with said contact devicesadapted to beautomatically short-circuited y the liquid when the speed of the motoris accelerated.

7. In a motor controllin device, a receptacle rotatably mounted anhaving a cavity therein for su porting a liquid, a liquid conductor insai cavity, a serles. of contact devices in the Wall of said cavit beingspaced apart -circumferentially an `vsubstantially flush with the innersurface of said wall, a plurality ofcontact surfaces on the periphery ofsaid receptacle respectivel -connect.- ed with said contact devices, andtir cated to engage said contact surfas during the rotation 'ofsaidreceptacle.

8. In a motor controlling device, a receptacle.' rotatably mounted andhaving therein a cavity substantially concentric with ytheaxis of saidreceptacle, a liquid conductor in said cavity, the wall of said cavitycomprising a series of circumferentially spaced vcontact segmentsinsulated from each other' and having their inner faces substantiallyHush with the inner surface'o the wall of said cavity, contact surfaceson the periphery of said receptacle insulated from each other andelectrically connected respectively with said contact segments. 9. Ina'motor controllin device, a receptacle 'rotatably mounted Ihaving acavity therein for supporting a liquid, a liquid conductor in saidcavity, a series of contact devices in the wall of said cavity, eachhaving an -inner fpart substantially Hush with "the 1nner sur a c'e .ofsaid wall, andhaving an v` outer part velectrically connected with theinner part, brushes located to engage said outer parts of said contactdevices during the rotation of said receptacle, and control lingresistance connected 'between said circumferentially.

brushessaidinner parts being spaced apart L 10. In a' motor controllingdevice, a receptacle rotatably mounted having a cavity therein forsupporting a liquid, a flowing .los

conductor in sa1d` cavity, a seriesof insuf,

lated contact devices in the wall of 'said cavity, each havin an innerpartsubstanf 'ally flushw'ith t cy innersurface of said wall, said innerparts being spaced apart circumferentially, brushes located to engagesaid contact devices during the rotation-lof said receptacle, andcontrolling. resistmct: j,

connected between said'brushes. v 411. In a motor controlling device, axedf starting-resistance in circuit with the motor,

a rotary element drivenb the'motor and carrying terminals forsairesistance, 4 and mechanism vadapted to maintain. a short circuitbetween the terminals of the resistance at one speed of the motorand'to-n'iaintain` an interrupted condition of said Shorticiivl.v

cuit -for 'a lower speed of the motor.

l 12. In u motor'controlling device, a pluraliipy of fixed resistanees,u rotary element drivzenyb'y the motor, terminals for said' resistncscarried by said element, and meehanis'ln Afor au'tomatieallymaintaining. a short' circuit between a desired number of said terminalsfor enev speed of the motor. and adapted temalntain said shortereuit'between a less number of said terminals for a lower speed of themotor. 10

' `Sigrlxd at Chic'ago this Sth' dayfof Mai-eli,

WILLIAM B. LUCAS.

Witnesses:

EUGENE RUMlvILER, PHILiP B. WooDWonTH.

